Switch-stand.



P. G. ANDERSON.

SWITCH STAND.

APPLICATION FILED 00'1'1'1, 1911.

1,034,948, Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK c. ANDERSON, or CINCINNATI, oHIo, ASSIGNOR T THE-AMERICAN VALVE a METER COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

SWITCH-STAND.

a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch-Stands, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of mechanism for operating switches of railways wherein a target'shaft is provided to carry visible targets for day use and a lantern with colored lights for night use, and it relates more particularly to improvements in breakable connections for switch stands.

The object of my invention is to provide simple, etficient and economical means whereby the switch stand, switch points and operating mechanism will be protected fronr injury when the switch is run through while the points are held rigidly for tratlic by latches or other means. I,

My invention consists in providing a crank pin which connects the crank of the switch stand to the operating or connecting rod for throwing the switch.

My invention also consists in the details of construction and arrangement as herein set forth and claimed.

In the drawing, which serves to illustrate the construction application and use of my invention: Figure l is a side elevation of a switch stand of the ordinary ground lever type showing my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in side elevation and partly in ver tical section; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of my breakable crank pin; and Fig. 4 is a top view of the crank, crank pin and switch operating rod.

In the embodiment of my invention, as illustrated, and which shows a preferred construction 1 represents my breakable crank pin which is formed cylindrical in shape and has its lower end 2 reduced in size so that its diameter is less than that of the diameter of the upper end3 thereby forming a shoulder 3 which is adapted to support the crank pin 1 on the crank 6. The diameter of the central part 4 is still further reduced in area so that it is less than the diameter of either end of said pin in order that when there is an excessive strain or stress upon said pin it will break at said reduced Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 7, 1911. Serial No. 653,316.

Patented Aug. 6, 19:12,.

switch or switch stand. The lower end 2 of the crank pin, is adapted to fitsnugly Within the opening 5 of the switch throwing crank 6, and is preferably made removable. The breakable pin 1 when made removable is held from disengagement with either the crank or connecting rod by the inner Wall of the housing 15. Theupper end of said crank pin is adapted to enter the eye 7 of the operating or connecting rod 8 as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The connecting rod 8 is connected to the switch in the usual manner and the crank 6 is loosely mounted on the target shaft 9 and adapted to engage the hub 10 by means of a positive clutch l1. \Vhile I have shown my invention as applied to the style of switch stand 12, illustrated, it is apparent that it may be applied to switch stands of other types.

My improved breakable crank pin is sufficiently strong for normal use of the switch and will withstand the ordinary strains and stresses to which it is subjected under trafiic. \Vhen, however, a switch is run through where the switch stand crank is provided with my breakable pin, the excessive stress or strain upon the connecting or operating rod, will, due to the running through of the switch by a car or train, shear or break off said pm at its greatest reduced portion or area without any further damage either to the switch stand, switch or operating mechanism so that said switch may be easily and conveniently repaired at small cost and with very little inconvenience or delay to traffic by simply connecting the parts with a new pin as before. All that is necessary to do this is to remove the cotter l3 and the nut 14: at the lower end of the target shaft 9 which permits the crank to drop so that it can be provided with a new pin 1 and replaced and re-connected to the switch operating rod as before, thus easily and quickly repairing the switch. These pins being small, can be easily and conveniently carried for the purpose of repairing the switches when run through thus avoiding the necessity of the replacing of the switch stand or switch points or operating mechanism which is often done at a great inconvenience and delay especially where the yards are congested by heavy traflic.

The cost of maintaining switches and switch stands for yard purposes on account of switches being run through when the I swizghes are held rigidly for traflic by the swi h stands without any breakable connection being employed, isenormops. It will, therefore, be seen that my simple improvement in breakable connections for switch stands for yard purposes is one of considerable value and of vast importance and use fulness in the matter of economy in repairing and maintaining such switches and switch stands and also in the matter of the saving of time as well as preventing delays in the movin of traflic when switches are run throug l i M invention is capable of considerable modification in construction and arrangement without departurefrom its spirit or scope.

I claim: 7

1. In manually operated switch stands having an operating shaft, a crank on said shaft provided with an opening, a removable breakable crank pin mounted in said opening, and a switch operating rod connected to a switch and to said pln whereby when an unusual strain is put upon said switch, said pin will break or shear off, substantially as set forth and for the purposes speci ed.

2. In manually operated switch stands having an operating shaft, a crank on said shaft provided with an opening, a removable breakable pin mounted in said opening and having a single reduced breakable area of metal, and a switch operating rod connected to a switch and to said pin whereby when an unusual strain is put upon said switch said pin will break or shear 011' at said reduced breakable area, substantially as set forth and for the purposes specified.

3. In manually operated switch stands havingan operating shaft, a crank on said shaft provided with an opening, a removable switch stand crank pin having a reduced end adapted to engage said opening, and having an enlarged end forming a shoulder adapted to support said crank pin, a connection between said switch stand crank pin and the head or front rod of a switch, said switch stand crank pin having a reduced breakable area of metal adjacent said shoulder, whereby when an unusual strain is put upon said switch said switch stand crank pin will shear off at said reduced breakable area without damage to the switch or switch stand, substantially as set forth and for the purposes specified.

4. In manually operated switch stands having an o erating shaft, a crank on said shaft provi edwith an opening, a removable switch stand breakable crank pin, one

end or portion of whichis reduced and mounted in the opening of said crank, and a switch operating rod connected to the enlarged end of said switch stand breakable crank pin at one end, and to the switch at the other end whereby when an undue strain is put upon said switch said pin will break or shear off at said breakable or reduced portion, substantially as set forth and for the purposes specified.

5. In manually operated switch stands, a removable crank pin adapted to engage the operating rod of a switch, and means for securing said crank pin to said crank, said crank pin having a reduced portion between its ends whereby when an undue strain is put upon said switch the same will break or shear off at said reduced portion, substantially as set forth.

6. In manually operated switch stands having an operating shaft, a crank on said shaft provided with an opening, a removable breakable crank pin mounted in said opening and having a reduced area of metal, and a switch operating rod connected to a switch and to said pin whereby when an unusual strain is put upon said switch said pin will break or shear off at said reduced area, substantially as set. forth and for the purposes specified.

FRANK C. ANDERSON.

Witnesses:

JAMES N. RAMSEY, GOLDIE GORDON. 

